Hope For The Holidays: Red Cross Volunteers Lend Helping Hand

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All across the area hundreds of volunteers are lending a helping hand this holiday season. Every Wednesday this month 5NEWS spotlights local volunteers in a weekly, “Hope For The Holidays,” segment.

Linda Morgan has been a Red Cross volunteer for more than 30 years. From house fires to natural disasters, she shows up to help those in need.

“She knows how to handle local situations and be there for people she may know,” said Red Cross Communications Specialist Rick Harvey. “She also knows how to be there for people in other parts of the country and adapt to the kind of situations she may find there.”

Morgan lives in Northwest Arkansas and has volunteered in all corners of the United States, from San Diego to New York. She says one of her most memorable experiences was volunteering in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina swamped and displaced thousands of residents.

“It was just overwhelming,” said Morgan. “I was running a shelter with more than 5,000 people in it. It was the first shelter I have ever done.”

Morgan says she stays active with the Red Cross, because helping others makes her happy.

“When you see somebody that just has nothing and I can just go and help them a little bit put a smile on their face then that’s the reason I do it,” said Morgan. “It’s for no other reason.”

Those who know Morgan well and work with her say she is a compassionate person.

“She’s constantly looking for ways to serve and help others,” said Harvey. “I think we would all like to be that kind of person that doesn’t think about what’s in it for me, but what is in it for helping others.”

Morgan says she plans to continue volunteering for years to come.

“I just want to get more people involved,” said Morgan. “If I can help others progress towards doing that, than I am happy.”

The Red Cross Northwest Arkansas Chapter is located in the Center for Nonprofits in Rogers and serves nearly a million people in 19 local counties.